The five-star rating as one of the nation's top recruits - along with a nearly 30-point scoring average as a senior at Hightower - was nice on paper but no guarantee for immediate playing time as a true freshman.

"I had to start from the bottom and work my way up," House said. "I stayed late with coaches to show them they could trust me, to gain a bigger role on the team."

That bigger role has come. House, a 6-7 forward, has started all but five of the Cougars' 17 games this season.

That trust factor has come as well, with the Cougars willing to put the ball in House's hands late in close games. House drained a 3-pointer to force overtime in a 78-75 win over Texas Southern on Dec. 8.

With the Cougars down three against Central Florida on Saturday, House again had the ball with 6 seconds remaining. His rushed shot from well beyond the 3-point arc was blocked in the 79-75 OT loss.

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"Normally, some freshmen don't get to touch the ball in late-game situations," House said. "They show a lot of confidence (in me)."

Up to the billing

House leads the Cougars (12-5, 1-3 Conference USA) with 17.3 points per game in league play entering Wednesday night's game against Tulsa at Hofheinz Pavilion. He is considered an early candidate to become the first UH player to win a conference freshman of the year award.

"The credentials that he came in here with are justified because of the way he's played," UH coach James Dickey said. "There is an expectation level that puts pressure on you to perform, and I think he's handled that extremely well. The bottom line is he wants to win and improve."

House has five 20-point games, including a high of 28 in the C-USA opener against SMU. The development process, Dickey said, can be measured in other ways: House has shown the ability to get to the line (with a team-high 104 free throws) and had 11 rebounds (to go with 15 points) against UCF for his first double-double.

For the season, House is third on the team in scoring (13.6) and rebounding (5.4). He's been named C-USA freshman of the week three times.

"He really understands there are more parts to the game than just scoring and shooting," Dickey said.

House said one of the biggest adjustments has been not being able to dominate the game like in high school, where he was the No. 15-rated prospect by ESPNU. At the Division I level, opposing players are quicker and stronger. Things that worked then don't necessarily work now.

Could use another move

"Now I have to find another go-to move," House said jokingly. "I knew I just couldn't come here playing the same way from high school to college and be a starter. In Division I, everybody is an athlete."

In what area does House need improvement?

"Defense," he said, repeating Dickey's team-wide message.

House said UH's young roster - forward Leon Gibson is the only senior - has helped his transition to the college level.

"We're all in this together," House said. "We're young and inexperienced, but we're also learning together."